The Times
Clay Center, Kansas,
23 October, 1930,
Section 2, Page 1, Col. 4

Mitchell-Mrs. Mary Mitchell, one of the oldest settlers of the Green neighborhood, and one of the best known and best liked ladies of the community, passed away Sunday morning, October 19th, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Terry, near Linn, Washington county. The story of Mrs. Mitchell's life is as below:

Mrs. Mary Mitchell was the oldest daughter of Paul and Mary Roberts, born in Grant County, Indiana, April 1st., 1842. Her girlhood and young womanhood was spent in the Hoosier State. She was married to John C. Mitchell in Huntington county of that state in 1863 and they did not pioneer westward until 1869. Though she outlived her husband about five years when she died she was only 70 days older than he was when he died, both living to the good old age of 88 years and some months.
People who live to that age, as a rule are abstemious and frugal and morally circumspect in their lives. This couple lived together as man and wife or sixty-two years which is very extraordinary and well worth the praise and emulation of people in this later generation.
Mrs. Mitchell was a religious woman. In early life she was converted and became a member of the Methodist church. Later she transferred her membership to the Baptist church in Green, Kansas and was a member of that organization as long as it continued.

God gave this worth couple twelve children, nine of whom are living today, and seven of whom were there at her funeral. The three who preceded the mother in death were: Ettie Jane, a child of ten months, and Mrs. Florence Schurle who went in 1923, and William who died in 1927. The following are alive and well known here in their home community: David Mitchell of DeWitt, Nebraska; Paul and John of Green, Kansas; Charles Elmer of Ottawa, Kansas; James of Clifton, Kansas; Mrs. Cynthia Ann Brooks of Meriden, Kansas; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Book o Norwood, Missouri; Mrs. Lavina Schiffman, Bay City, Oregon; Mrs. Manda Ellen Terry of Lynn, Kansas. Mrs. Schiffman of Oregon is not here and Paul is ill. The mother died at the home of Mrs. Terry. There are forty grand-children, thirty-two great grand-children and three great great grand-children living. Mrs. Mitchell is also survived by two sisters in her immediate family, Mrs. Wm. Clark of Green and Mrs. Walter Slingsby of Clay Center, Kansas. While she is a mother and grandmother to many she was also aunt and great aunt to many more.
This woman was a typical pioneer. While she and her husband were yet young they came west across the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers into Nebraska. They remained there only two years when they dropped south into Kansas and homesteaded. This early travel in a covered wagon with food and bedding and children was very laborious.
This homestead, to which they came, one and one-half miles south of Green is still in the estate and is held on a patent from the government bearing the signature of U. S. Grant then president of the United States.
The true story just the bare facts of this woman's hardships would read like fiction to many of this day. Our high school pupils of today would read these experiences, if given in detail like a fairy story. The house in which she first lived on this homestead was built out of lumber sawed from native trees and hauled from Waterville. Forty miles away was as near as any railroad came. Their first water was brought from some well or spring a long ways off, hauled in a barrel. They dug their first well with a pick and shovel hoisting the dirt and rock by means of a wagon wheel on a fixed axle. Their early Kansas clothing was cloth she herself had helped to weave. They molded their candles. They must summon the physician by riding a horse to his home miles away and he must come to releave the case in the same manner. If they enjoyed any religious gatherings it was in some settler's shack or later in the humble school house. When the preacher happened to be riding his horse from one community to another and the neighborhood assembled at some house they were charged to bring the sideboards on the wagon to be used for seats while they heard songs and sermon. On one occasion this district was threatened with a prairie fire. This woman's husband with other neighbors, hurried several miles south to meet and stop the scourge. It swept by them and around her home and family before he could return. A few acres had been broken about the house. They placed the children in the dead furrows and behind the sod while with swab and wet blanket she fought the flames. She was preserved with her family though exhausted and hair singed. I need not review in detail, simply show you a brief outline and you can make the biography. The family, her many hardships, her faithful wedded life and sixty-two years. After it is all over it is a glorious record.
The services occurred at the M. E. Church in Green. Her casket was borne by six nephews; Jake, George, and Walter Slingsby and Alf, Eli and Harry Clark. The services were in charge of Rev. Homer Wroten assisted by Rev. Coy. The Ebenezer quartette provided the music. They also sang at Mr. Mitchell's funeral A very large gathering consisting of many relatives and numerous neighbors filled the church in her respect. Interment was in the Green cemetery beside her husband.